OBJECTIVE To study the protective effect and potential mechanism of chikusetsu saponin Ⅳ a （chsⅣ） on renal function in diabetic nephropathy （DN） model rats. METHODS DN rat model was established by high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection. Thirty-six model rats were randomly divided into model group （i.g. administration of normal saline， high-fat diet）， chsⅣ low-dose and high-dose groups （i.g. administration of 90， 180 mg/kg chsⅣ， high-fat diet）， with 12 rats in each group. Additionally， 10 normal rats were set as the control group （i.g. administration of normal saline， regular diet）. From the 5th to the 12th week after streptozotocin injection， they were given intragastric administration of relevant drug or normal saline， once a day. After the last medication， the levels of fasting blood glucose， fasting insulin， blood urea nitrogen， serum creatinine and urine protein as well as the levels of reduced glutathione （GSH）， superoxide dismutase （SOD） and malondialdehyde （MDA） in renal tissues were measured. Additionally， the insulin resistance index was calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin， periodic acid-Schiff， and Masson staining techniques were employed to examine the histopathological alterations in the renal tissue. The expressions of Notch signaling pathway-related proteins in renal tissue were detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot methods. RESULTS Compared with model group， the histomorphological of renal tissues in the chsⅣ low- and high-dose groups were significantly improved， with significant decreases in renal histological scores， mesangial expansion index， and glomerulosclerosis scores （ P ＜0.05）； the levels of fasting blood glucose， fasting insulin， blood urea nitrogen， serum creatinine， urine protein and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance， as well as MDA content， the expression levels of Notch1， Notch intracellular domain， hairy and enhancer of Split 1 and Delta-like protein 1 in renal tissue were all significantly decreased （ P ＜0.05）. The levels of GSH and SOD in renal tissue were significantly elevated （ P ＜0.05）. Moreover， the improvement in these indicators was significantly more pronounced in the chsⅣ high-dose group compared to the chsⅣ low-dose group （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS ChsⅣ can ameliorate renal pathological damage and functional impairment in DN rats. Its underlying mechanisms include restoration of glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity， attenuation of renal oxidative stress， and suppression of aberrant Notch signaling pathway activation.

Objective: To explore the management of blood donors tested reactive to HCV in blood screening based on confirmation of HCV infection. Methods: Multiple HCV antibody assays, repeating HCV RNA testing, follow-up of blood donors and retesting of archive samples were performed to confirm HCV infection, identify infection status, and exclude false positives in blood donors reactive to HCV in blood screening. Results: From 2011 to 2024, the unqualified rate of HCV detection in blood screening was 2.45‰(2 751/1 122 026). Among these, anti-HCV+-&NAT-accounted for 1.85‰, followed by anti-HCV++ at 0.60‰. The proportion of anti-HCV+-&NAT-and HCV RNA yields was extremely low (0.007‰). The positive rate of anti-HCV+-&NAT-samples tested by electrochemiluminescence method (ELCIA) was approximately 7.5%, differing among reagents (P<0.05). The follow-up of anti-HCV+-&NAT-donors showed that 96.2% (202/210) were false positives, but 51.4% of donors remained anti-HCV+-&NAT-during follow-up. Among them, 8 donors (3.8%) could not be ruled out from HCV infection due to positive retesting by ELCIA. Of the anti-HCV+-&NAT-donors who were reactive at the first follow-up, 86.8% remained anti-HCV+-&NAT-at the second follow-up. The sampling confirmation data showed that all of 260 anti-HCV++ donors were confirmed as anti-HCV positive, and the proportion of false positives or missed detections by NAT was very low. Two occult HBV infections (OBIs) and one HBsAg carrier were identified among the 3 anti-HCV +-&NAT+ donors, and no HCV infection was confirmed in 5 anti-HCV--&HCV RNA + donors. Conclusion: The prevalence of HCV among blood donors in Dalian was about 0.06%, with extremely low proportion of window-period infection and slightly higher proportion of resolved infections than that of current infections. The majority of anti-HCV+-&NAT-were false positive. Blood donors confirmed as false positive should be qualified in blood screening 3 months later before next donation. In order to reduce the false positive results, it was advisable to avoid the same type of supplementary reagents as the initial reagents when performing confirmation.

Functional dyspepsia （FD） is a prioritized disease category where traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） demonstrates distinct therapeutic advantages. The current western medicine treatment for FD is mainly based on proton pump inhibitors and prokinetic agents， with digestive enzymes， probiotics and antidepressants serving as adjuvant medication， yet such therapies still have certain limitations. TCM treatment for FD includes oral administration of Chinese herbal formulas and Chinese patent medicines， as well as external TCM therapies such as acupuncture and moxibustion， acupoint application， hot medicinal compress therapy， rubbing with ointment， medicinal iontophoresis， auricular acupoint therapy and tui na （Chinese medical massage）. The combined treatment of FD with integrated TCM and western medicine can significantly improve clinical effectiveness and reduce adverse reactions. The common mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of both TCM and western medicine revolve around the core pathological processes of FD， mainly focusing on restoring gastrointestinal motility， regulating the levels of brain-gut peptides， modulating intestinal microecology， and ameliorating inflammatory status. The differential mechanisms lie in the precise targeting feature of western medicine versus the holistic-regulating and multi-target characteristics of TCM， and the two approaches exert a synergistic effect to enhance efficacy. This paper proposes to leverage the advantages of TCM in holistic regulation and the strengths of western medicine in targeted treatment， so as to provide personalized and comprehensive treatment regimens for FD patients.

Background and Aims:Totally implantable venous access ports(TIVAP)are widely used in patients requiring long-term intravenous therapy.Traditional butterfly needle puncture fixation methods have limitations,including low success rates,increased pain,and risk of needle-stick injury.This study aimed to design an adjustable puncture protection kit for butterfly needles and evaluate its clinical utility using a simulated device.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted with 70 patients implanted with upper arm ports in the Hematology Department of Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,from January to December 2024.The patients were divided into a study group and a control group,with 35 cases in each,using a randomized block design.The study group underwent puncture with the simulated adjustable protection kit,while the control group used the traditional finger fixation method.Outcomes compared included first-attempt success rate,vertical puncture rate,pain score,puncture time,and complication rate.Results:The baseline characteristics of the two groups were balanced.The study group had significantly higher first-attempt puncture success rate and vertical puncture rate than the control group(94.3%vs.77.1%;91.4%vs.57.1%,both P<0.05).In the experimental group compared with the control group,pain scores were lower(1.80±1.13 vs.2.94±1.33,P<0.05),and puncture time was shorter[(31.31±9.05)s vs.(41.80±23.97)s,P<0.05].There was no significant difference in the incidence of puncture-related complications between the two groups(2.9%vs.14.3%,P>0.05).Conclusion:The simulated adjustable butterfly needle puncture protection kit effectively improves puncture success,enhances efficiency,reduces patient pain,and demonstrates good clinical safety.This innovative design provides a promising solution for reducing needle-stick injury risks and optimizing port puncture procedures,although larger,multicenter,and long-term studies are warranted.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical features and genetic etiology of two Chinese patients with Cowden syndrome (CS). METHODS: Two patients diagnosed with multiple gastrointestinal polyps by gastroenteroscopy at Henan Provincial People's Hospital in September and November 2023 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data of the patients were collected. Whole exome sequence (WES) was carried out. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No.: 2018-03-01). RESULTS: The patients were diagnosed with multiple gastrointestinal polyps in addition with polypoid changes of the gallbladder. Genetic testing revealed that patient 1 has harbored a heterozygous c.738dupG (p.Leu247Valfs*6) variant of the PTEN gene, which was unreported previously. Patient 2 has harbored a heterozygous c.469G>T (p.Glu157Ter) variant of the PTEN gene, which was known to be pathogenic. None of their family members was found to harbor the above variants. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, both variants were rated as pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_Supporting+PP3+PP4). Bioinformatic analysis suggested that both variants can significantly affect the tertiary structure of the PTEN protein. CONCLUSION The heterozygous variants of the PTEN gene probably underlay the CS in both patients. Discovery of the novel variant has enriched the mutational spectrum of the PTEN gene.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; China ; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple/genetics* ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase/chemistry* ; East Asian People/genetics*

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of the injury of knee ligament and cartilage in pediatric patients after acute traumatic lateral patellar dislocation based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods:Clinical data of 68 pediatric patients with acute traumatic lateral patellar dislocation admitted to The Second Hospital of Tangshan from September,2020 to September,2023 were retrospectively analyzed. All children underwent MRI scan on knee joint. These children were divided into partial tear group (85 cases) and complete tear group (41 cases) according to injury degree. In addition,the location and characteristic of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) injury and cartilage injury were analyzed. Results:All 126 children had MPFL injury,including 85 cases of partial tear and 41 cases of complete tear. Among the partial tears,34 cases occurred only on the patellar side,14 cases only on the femoral side,9 cases only in the middle segment,and 28 cases had multiple-site injuries. Among the complete tears,27 cases occurred only on the patellar side,7 cases only on the femoral side,4 cases only in the middle segment,and 3 cases had multiple-site injuries. The number of each degree of partial MPFL injury was higher than that of complete injury,and the difference was statistically significant (x2=7.596,10.886,P<0.05). Among the 126 children,91 cases had VMO injury,and the degree of VMO injury was positively correlated with the degree of MPFL injury (r=0.339,P=0.006). Among the 126 children with acute traumatic lateral patellar dislocation,119 cases had osteochondral injury,with a total of 174 injured sites. The sites of grade 1 injury were mainly on the patellar side,while those of grades 2,3,and 4 injuries were mainly multiple-site injuries. Conclusion:Most of acute traumatic lateral patellar dislocation complicate MPFL injury and cartilage injury in pediatric patients,which mainly focus on patellar side of injury and multiple injury. There are no differences in injury site and degree between different genders. MPFL injury mostly complicates VMO injury,which injury degree is positively correlation with MPFL.

Objective To develop a Discharge Readiness Scale for Patients with PICC and to test its reliability and validity.Methods Based on the Meleis transition theory,the initial version of the scale was formed through literature review,qualitative interview,expert enquiry and pre-investigation.Patients with PICC in 2 tertiary hospital in Hangzhou from December 2023 to March 2024 were selected to investigate the reliability and validity of the scale by convenience sampling.Results 352 questionnaires were distributed,and 340 valid questionnaires were recovered,and the validity recovery rate was 96.59％.The exploratory factor analysis extracted 4 common factors with the cumulative variance contribution rate of 80.568％.The confirmatory factor analysis showed that all evaluation indicators of the scale were within ideal standards.The item-level content validity index ranged from 0.79 to 1.00,and the scale-level content validity index was 0.96.The total Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.963,and the split-half reliability coefficient was 0.889.The Chinese version of the Discharge Readiness Scale was used as a calibration tool,and the correlation coefficients between the total score of the scale and the scores of each dimension and the calibration tool were 0.788 and 0.567～0.878,respectively(all P＜0.05).The Discharge Readiness Scale for Patients with PICC included 26 items in 4 dimensions including physiological and psychological status,knowledge of catheter maintenance,catheter maintenance capability and social support.Conclusion The Discharge Readiness Scale for Patients with PICC has good reliability and validity,and can be used to evaluate the level of discharge readiness among patients with PICC.

Objective:To investigate feedback on teaching effectiveness and optimization strategies for flipped classrooms in pediatric probation of eight-year clinical medicine programs, and to provide insights for enhancing the educational quality of pediatric probation.Methods:From June to September 2022, eight-year clinical medicine students from the class of 2018 undergoing pediatric probation were included in the study using purposive sampling. The subjects participated in one-on-one, offline, semi-structured, in-depth interviews to provide feedback on traditional lectures and flipped classroom teaching. The sample size was determined based on the principle of data saturation, with nine students participating in-depth interviews. NVivo 12 software was used for coding and classifying the interview data, which were then analyzed using thematic framework analysis to identify key themes.Results:Analysis of the interview data revealed three themes and ten sub-themes. Specifically, theme 1: The flipped classroom enhanced learning effectiveness but increased students' workload; theme 2: The current pediatric probation was scientifically designed but could be improved; theme 3: Several strategies exist for optimizing the flipped classroom teaching in pediatric probation.Conclusions:The flipped classroom in pediatric probation is in its early stages. While offering some benefits, further exploration and optimization are needed in curriculum design, student motivation, and supervision and evaluation methods.

Background and Aims:Totally implantable venous access ports(TIVAP)are widely used in patients requiring long-term intravenous therapy.Traditional butterfly needle puncture fixation methods have limitations,including low success rates,increased pain,and risk of needle-stick injury.This study aimed to design an adjustable puncture protection kit for butterfly needles and evaluate its clinical utility using a simulated device.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted with 70 patients implanted with upper arm ports in the Hematology Department of Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,from January to December 2024.The patients were divided into a study group and a control group,with 35 cases in each,using a randomized block design.The study group underwent puncture with the simulated adjustable protection kit,while the control group used the traditional finger fixation method.Outcomes compared included first-attempt success rate,vertical puncture rate,pain score,puncture time,and complication rate.Results:The baseline characteristics of the two groups were balanced.The study group had significantly higher first-attempt puncture success rate and vertical puncture rate than the control group(94.3%vs.77.1%;91.4%vs.57.1%,both P<0.05).In the experimental group compared with the control group,pain scores were lower(1.80±1.13 vs.2.94±1.33,P<0.05),and puncture time was shorter[(31.31±9.05)s vs.(41.80±23.97)s,P<0.05].There was no significant difference in the incidence of puncture-related complications between the two groups(2.9%vs.14.3%,P>0.05).Conclusion:The simulated adjustable butterfly needle puncture protection kit effectively improves puncture success,enhances efficiency,reduces patient pain,and demonstrates good clinical safety.This innovative design provides a promising solution for reducing needle-stick injury risks and optimizing port puncture procedures,although larger,multicenter,and long-term studies are warranted.

Objective To understand the impact of bed-making manipulation on the air surrounding bed units in hemodialysis room,evaluate the effectiveness of routine terminal disinfection,and provide scientific basis for optimi-zing infection control measures.Methods Air specimens(pre-bed-making group)and environmental object surface specimens(pre-terminal disinfection group)around bed units were collected when hemodialysis was about to be fi-nished.Air specimens after bed-making(bed-making group)and environmental object surface specimens after ter-minal disinfection(terminal disinfection group)were also collected.Bacterial colonies were counted and identified.Results A total of 714 air specimens were collected from 238 bed units of 45 hemodialysis units before and during bed-making.The average bacterial colony count during bed-making was higher than that before bed-making([2.72±3.43]CFU/plate vs[0.69±1.50]CFU/plate,P＜0.05).The qualified rate of microbial colony count before bed-making was higher than that during bed-making(96.64％vs 64.71％,P＜0.05).A total of 450 environmental ob-ject surface specimens from 90 bed units of 45 hemodialysis units were collected before and after terminal disinfec-tion.The average bacterial colony count before terminal disinfection was higher than that after terminal disinfection([8.18±20.6]CFU/cm2 vs[1.49±3.44]CFU/cm2.P＜0.05).The qualified rate of microbial colony count after terminal disinfection was higher than that before terminal disinfection(98.22％vs 92.44％,P＜0.05).The micro-organisms in the air and environment were mainly coagulase negative Staphylococcus.Conclusion Bed-making has a certain impact on the air microorganisms around the bed units,and terminal disinfection can reduce the bacterial co-lony count of the environment.It is necessary to pay attention to the cleaning and disinfection of the environment for medical treatment,and carry out bed-making manipulation under clear condition to minimize the risk of infection.